Since 2001, scores of our highest achievers and most admired innovators have been awarded the Parnelli. The award recognizes pioneering, influential professionals and their contributions, honoring both individuals and companies. It is truly the "Oscar®" of the Live Event Industry.

LAS VEGAS — Adrian Belew, whose skills as an emcee and comedian, it turns out, rivals his artistry on the guitar, dropped a hint midway through the 2016 Parnelli Awards gala that something special was about to be added to an already extraordinary evening Oct. 22 at the Rio in Las Vegas. The surprise: an appearance by Tom Petty to present the 2016 award for Lifetime Achievement to his longtime tour manager Richard Fernandez.

LAS VEGAS — There will be plenty to look at with this year’s LDI show, with the latest moving lights, video gear, staging and rigging equipment and sound systems competing for attention. But one of the greatest networking opportunities during LDI this year will be taking place not within the distraction-filled convention center, but in the great outdoors. The 2016 PLSN/FOH Parnelli Classic Golf Tournament is set for Thursday, Oct. 20 at Siena Golf Club in Las Vegas..

LAS VEGAS — The 2016 Parnelli Ballot has been finalized, and voting has begun! The ballot, which includes the six North American finalists for the Parnelli Award for Hometown Hero Lighting Company of the Year award (chosen during a separate round of voting in July) is posted online at parnelliaawards.com, and it’s up to YOU, the PLSN reader, to decide who among the nominees will step up to the awards podium at the Rio in Las Vegas on the evening of Oct. 22.

LAS VEGAS — Yes, it’s August — and still summertime. But the 2016 Parnelli Awards aren’t some hazy abstraction on the distant horizon. The final awards ballot will be posted online in less than a week. Voting will continue for the month of September. And before you know it, October will be here, and the Parnelli Awards staff will be getting the usual last-minute requests for a seat at this year’s awards gala.

LAS VEGAS — PLSN readers have chosen the six regional winners of the 2016 Hometown Hero Award competition. These top vote getters from each of five U.S. regions plus all of Canada will be automatically entered on the Parnelli Awards ballot. PLSN readers will then get a chance to vote on which regional company will be awarded the coveted honor of Parnelli Hometown Hero Lighting Company of the Year. The 2016 Parnelli Ballot will be posted on parnelliawards.com in early September. The nominations process for all remaining Parnelli Award categories is now underway. The nominations deadline this year is Aug. 24, 2016.

LAS VEGAS — PLSN readers have chosen the six regional winners of the 2016 Hometown Hero Award competition. These top vote getters from each of five U.S. regions plus all of Canada will be automatically entered on the Parnelli Awards ballot. PLSN readers will then get a chance to vote on which regional company will be awarded the coveted honor of Parnelli Hometown Hero Lighting Company of the Year. The 2016 Parnelli Ballot will be posted on parnelliawards.com in early September. The nominations process for all remaining Parnelli Award categories is now underway. The nominations deadline this year is Aug. 24, 2016.

LAS VEGAS — The Parnelli Awards Board of Advisors announced that Grammy nominated composer/guitarist Adrian Belew will host the 2016 Parnelli Awards. The event is set for the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday, Oct. 22, just two days after the Parnelli Golf Tournament on Oct. 20.

More than 30 Sponsors Step Up to Support 2016 Parnelli Awards, Golf Tournament

LAS VEGAS — October may still seem like a long time away, but the planning for the 2016 Parnelli Awards is already revving into high gear, with the first round of voting for regional Hometown Hero companies already underway and nominations for the other Parnelli Awards categories less than two weeks away. As in years past, the live event industry is stepping up to support the 2016 Parnelli Awards gala (Oct. 22) and golf tournament (Oct. 20) in a big way, with more than 30 sponsors announced by mid-July.

LAS VEGAS — For the seventh time, PLSN and FRONT of HOUSE readers will have the opportunity to nominate lighting, staging, video and audio technologies worthy of an Indispensable Technology "IT" Award. The awards competition recognizes technologies that have advanced the state of the art in each of those categories within the previous year. The recognition process starts with nominations from readers of each magazine. Top nominated products make it onto the Parnelli Awards ballot for a final vote.

LAS VEGAS — Each year, FRONT of HOUSE honors regional sound companies with our Hometown Hero awards. These awards honor the best small companies in six regions across North America: the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Northwest, Southwest and Canada. FRONT of HOUSE readers — the people who actually work with these companies — get to decide who’s really the best. We are looking for your ideas on the best regional sound production company in the U.S. and Canada. Let us know your faves (and, yes, youcan nominate your own company).

LAS VEGAS — Each year, PLSN honors regional lighting companies with our Hometown Hero awards. These awards honor the best small companies in six regions across North America: the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Northwest, Southwest and Canada. PLSN readers — the people who actually work with these companies — get to decide who’s really the best. We are looking for your ideas on the best regional lighting production company in the U.S. and Canada. Let us know your faves (and, yes, you can nominate your own company).

LAS VEGAS — The Parnelli Board of Advisors will honor Greg Mackie, whose groundbreaking work redefined audio mixing, with the 2016 Parnelli Audio Innovator award at this year's ceremony, which is set for Oct. 22, 2016. Note: FRONT of HOUSE inadvertently ran "November 22" instead of "October 22" in the current May issue, page 47. The correct date is Saturday, Oct. 22. FOH regrets the error —ed.

Danny O’Bryen to Receive ParnelliVisionary Award at Oct. 22 Ceremony

LAS VEGAS — The Parnelli Board of Advisors announced that Danny O’Bryen, a concert touring video pioneer who co-founded Screenworks, will receive this year’s Visionary award at the annual ceremony, which is set for Oct. 22, 2016.Note: PLSN inadvertently ran "November 22" instead of "October 22" in the current May issue, page 60. The correct date is Saturday, Oct. 22. PLSN regrets the error -ed.)

LAS VEGAS — The Parnelli Board of Advisors has announced that Richard Fernandez will be honored with the 2016 Parnelli Lifetime Achievement Award. During an enviable 40-plus year career in the live entertainment business, Fernandez served as tour manager for the Faces, the Eagles, Bob Dylan, the New Barbarians, Frank Zappa, Crosby Stills & Nash and Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers among others, traveling around the world and back scores of times.